Children’s Discovery Center opens in Lewes
Mere moments after the ribbon was cut Dec. 8 dozens of children rushed into the new Children’s Discovery Center in the Lewes History Museum.
It didn’t take long for kids to find the authentic boat simulator, where they piloted boats of all sizes in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. Around the corner, kids grabbed supplies from the general store and took them over to the lighthouse keeper’s house, where they pretended to cook dinner on the stove.
Just across the room, one child took the captain’s wheel of a ship, while others used tabletop touch screens to build 18th century boats and send them on a voyage full of a cargo they had chosen.
While they may not have realized it, every bit of the new children’s wing of the museum is catered to teach kids about Lewes’ history and the lives of its residents of more than a century ago.
“I was thinking about the way education has evolved over the years,” said Alison Myers, president of the Cape Henlopen school board. “It’s no longer just reading about [history], it’s activities and immersing our students in authentic experiences.”
She said the new facility will be a great resource for Cape schools, particularly nearby Shields Elementary.
The center was made possible, in part, by a gift from the Schell/Marshall family. Preston Schell said his fond memories of summers on the beach have forged an unbreakable connection to Lewes.
“Lewes Beach means a ton to the Marshall family,” he said. “This was something we were very excited to support, to have something that brings the history of this area to the children of this area that’s meant so much to me.”
Lewes Historical Society Executive Director Mike DiPaolo said he’s grateful and excited to offer an experience for children that’s unique to southern Delaware.
“It takes a village to do any project like this,” he said. “We’re trying to bring history alive for families.”
The Children’s Discovery Center is located in the former library, 111 Adams Ave. The discovery center and the museum are each free to the public and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
